School Heritage

Our Heritage

Dulwich College Suzhou was the third to join the Dulwich College International (DCI) family of schools, opening its doors in 2007. The College is made up of approximately 950 students from age 2 to age 18, with over forty different nationalities represented in our diverse student body.

Our links to Dulwich College, founded in 1619, are strong and we collaborate closely with the other schools in the network to encourage an international outlook and create an extended community where academic ability is fostered, creativity is valued, and diversity is celebrated.

We are proud to share a common heritage with all the schools in the DCI network, and equally value the traditions, unique to our school, that we have created since we opened.

Our Traditions

Green Tigers

Dulwich College Suzhou believes that engaging with nature and respecting the environment are important. The students are encouraged to be mindful of the impact they have on the environment at the College. Dulwich also regards it as a tradition and a responsibility to help the students become leaders and innovators in sustainability so that they understand the effect of their lifestyle on the climate.

Student Leadership

We encourage students across the College to involve themselves in the wider College community and offer support to one another. Our Student Council is made up of students from each year group, who learn to listen and work with one another while voicing the views of their peers. Our most senior students are encouraged to take on additional responsibilities and to act as ambassadors for the College. Each year, our Head Boy and Head Girl are selected from our most senior students and a select number of students are nominated to take on the role of prefects. Our student leadership team set a strong example to younger students and act as a point of contact for students throughout the College.

Pastoral Care and the House System

The system of pastoral care is highly developed at Dulwich College Suzhou.

Our class teachers and form tutors are responsible not only for every student’s academic development, but also for ensuring they receive the pastoral support they need. Our school has a pastoral support team for students at all levels, and all of them follow a Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) course appropriate to their age and coordinated across the year groups.

Our House system is an integral part of the College pastoral care structure. Many international school students experience a great deal of change in their lives. As their parents move from country to country, they make new friends and adapt to different cultures and school systems. We ensure that children are welcomed into the Dulwich community, that we know them well and that they are supported during their time at the College.

The House system builds a sense of community within the student body and helps to develop students’ leadership skills. Our House Captains and students are responsible for helping to organise House activities, which normally take the form of friendly competitions.

Our Houses

On arriving at our school, students and staff are allocated to one of four Houses, where they will remain during their time with us. Our Houses are named after inspirational and accomplished people: Anand Panyarachun, Charles Howard, Ernest Shackleton, and Yung Wing.

Anand

Named for Anand Panyarachun (1932 – ). Anand Panyarachun served as Thailand’s prime minister twice. During his tenure he helped draft the country’s Peoples’ Constitution and played an integral role in the advancement of Thai society.

Howard

Named for Charles Howard (1526-1624). Charles Howard, Lord Howard of Effingham, was appointed Lord Admiral of England in 1585. Three years later, alongside Sir Francis Drake, his leadership played a key role in the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

Shackleton

Named for Ernest Shackleton (1874 – 1922). Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton was born in Ireland, graduated from Dulwich College and is hailed as one of the greatest explorers of the 20th century. Known for his great leadership and perseverance, Shackleton led a Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1915 that met disaster when his ship, the Endurance, became trapped in the polar ice. Shackleton led his men to shelter and then sailed out in a small open boat (now on display at Dulwich College London) to seek help. He returned and rescued his crew, all of whom survived the ordeal.

Wing

Named for Yung Wing (1828 – 1912). When Yung Wing, also known as Rong Hong(容闳), graduated from Yale University in 1854, he became the first Chinese student ever to graduate from an American university. Born in Zhuhai, Yung Wing is commonly known as the "forefather of the modernisation of China", and his greatest achievement was to persuade the imperial Qing Court to permit the "Chinese Educational Mission".

Uniform

Students from Reception to Year 11 will wear the school uniform. School uniform isn't about conformity, but reflects a long-standing tradition from the founding school and is a badge of pride and school identity.